'We have got to protect ourselves' - West Ham captain Mark Noble speaks out after confronting London Stadium pitch invader

Noble clashed with the pitch invader at London Stadium
Getty Images
Tom Doyle10 March 2018

West Ham captain Mark Noble defended his methods after confronting a London Stadium pitch invader during the Hammers' chaotic Premier League defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

Noble shoved a pitch-invading fan to the ground as frustrations boiled over in their 3-0 home loss against Burnley, with club co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan eventually forced to exit the ground early amid concerns for their safety.

Moments after Ashley Barnes gave the visitors the lead, a man ran onto the pitch from the home end.

With no stewards on hand to remove the fan, an enraged Noble grabbed him and threw him to the floor.

Getty Images

Two more fans then encroached the pitch and were led away by Hammers defender James Collins.

And, after Chris Wood put Burnley two up, another fan picked up the corner flag, marched to the centre circle and planted it in the ground.

Meanwhile, fans gathered below the directors' box chanting 'sack the board' as the atmosphere grew increasingly toxic, with Gold and Sullivan eventually departing before the final whistle.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Noble said: "People have to realise we are footballers, we are targets but we have got to protect ourselves.

"There were a number of fans on the pitch. In all honesty a lot of them were running towards the chairman but if someone approaches me personally I'm going to protect myself.

"It's a big stadium with a lot of area to cover, its tough for security.

"There was a break, we conceded two goals really quickly and it killed the game.

In Pictures | West Ham vs Burnley | 10/03/2018

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"The atmosphere was tough which was great for Burnley. We couldn't cope with it after they scored.

"In football winning games is all that matters, but a team like West Ham and every team apart from Man City are going to lose games.

"It's hard for us, the fans are unhappy with the board, obviously. As soon as we go a goal down we get targeted.

"A lot of players haven't played in that atmosphere before."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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